As we have hens, eggs are a big part of our weekly diet. Even if you don't have hens, eggs are relatively cheap, make super-quick meals and are good for you.
Quick prep, easy, comfort food!
Preheat the oven to gas 8/ 230c.
Pop some sausages and oil, in an oven dish, into the oven for around 10 mins until just starting to brown.
While the sausages are cooking, mix up 4oz plain flour, 3 eggs, 1/2 pint milk and a pinch of salt.
Pour the batter over the sausages and put it straight back into the oven for around 25 mins. Don't open the oven before 20 mins or they'll deflate.
You could make individual toad in the holes by making them in a Yorkshire pudding tin. Great for kids.
Heat oil in the tin until very hot. When it's ready, add half-cooked sausages, chopped up, into each portion and pour the batter over the top. Cook for 20-25 mins until golden and HUGE!
Serve with mash, peas and gravy!
Frittata
Serves 4
Speedy, easy, one pan dish.
A great way to use leftovers or sorry-looking veg and cheese that might, otherwise, have ended their days in the bin.
I like to use cooked potatoes, chopped into chunks, pretty much any cooked veg, chorizo, chilli flakes, spring onions and herbs.
Cook the chorizo, potatoes, and veg in some oil in a frying pan. When the potatoes are starting to brown, turn the heat down and add 6 beaten eggs (seasoned with salt, pepper and chilli flakes). If you're not as greedy as we are, you might get away with 4!
Sprinkle in some herbs of your choice. Some chopped chives or dill, or dried mixed herbs or oregano are nice.
I often pop in some halved cherry tomatoes at this point too. Sprinkle cheese over the top. Any cheese is fine. I love feta.
Cook for around 8-10 mins until the the bottom and sides are set. Then pop it under the grill for a couple of minutes until the cheese is melted and the egg is cooked.
Serve warm or cold. Great for picnics.
Pancakes
Quantities can be made according to how many servings you need.
Great for a comforting weekend lunch.
Savoury or sweet. Both amazing and seriously quick and easy.
I love to make a sort of cheesy, pancake bake... Bear with me!
Preheat the oven to gas 6/ 200c
Make a good pile of pancakes. See recipe on the blog.
Sauté some sliced mushrooms and leeks in some garlic, butter and herbs.
Rustle up lots of cheese sauce.
Put some of the mushroom mix into each pancake and roll. Put each rolled pancake next to each other in an oven dish. A bit like making cannelloni.
When you've used all the pancakes, pour the cheese sauce over the top. Shuggle the dish so that the sauce makes it into the pancakes. Pop some sliced tomatoes on the top and some grated cheese.
Bake for around 25 mins until bubbling and golden.
Quiche
Perfect freezer food! I made loads when I was pregnant for quick suppers after the twingos appeared!
I love a Quiche Lorraine. This is pretty similar to how I make it. I use the food processor to make the pastry though #lazy. And I use oregano ('cause I flipping love it). Don't be put off by the long recipe, it's really easy and freezes fantastically.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/quichelorraine_71987
Ingredients
For the pastry
- 175g/6oz plain flour, plus extra for dusting
- salt
- 75g/2¾oz butter, plus extra for greasing
- (alternatively use ready made pastry)
For the filling
- 250g/9oz English cheddar, grated
- 4 tomatoes, sliced (optional)
- 200g/7oz bacon, chopped
- 5 eggs, beaten
- 100ml/3½fl oz milk
- 200ml/7fl oz double cream
- salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 2 sprigs of fresh thyme
Method
1. To make the pastry, sift the flour together with a pinch of salt in a large bowl. Rub in the butter until you have a soft breadcrumb texture. Add enough cold water to make the crumb mixture come together to form a firm dough, and then rest it in the fridge for 30 minutes.
2. Roll out the pastry on a light floured surface and line a 22cm/8½inch well-buttered flan dish. Don't cut off the edges of the pastry yet. Chill again.
3. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.
4. Remove the pastry case from the fridge and line the base of the pastry with baking parchment and then fill it with baking beans. Place on a baking tray and bake blind for 20 minutes. Remove the beans and parchment and return to the oven for another five minutes to cook the base
5. Reduce the temperature of the oven to 160C/325F/Gas 3.
6. Sprinkle the cheese into the pastry base and add the sliced tomatoes if you are using them. Fry the bacon pieces until crisp and sprinkle over them over the top.
7. Combine the eggs with the milk and cream in a bowl and season well. Pour over the bacon and cheese. Sprinkle the thyme over the top and trim the edges of the pastry.
8. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool and set further.
9. Trim the pastry edges to get a perfect edge and then serve in wedges.
Fool-proof eggs benedict
A real weekend breakfast/ brunch treat
My perfect poached eggs:
Use the freshest eggs possible.
Bring salted water to the boil. Add a capful of white wine vinegar.
Break your eggs into the pan.
Turn off the heat immediately and pop a muffin or bread in the toaster. When they pop up, the eggs should be ready.
Fool-proof hollandaise:
Melt 100g butter in the microwave.
Separate 2 eggs. Put the egg whites in the fridge or freezer, for future use.
Add juice of half a lemon, salt and pepper to the egg yolks. I also like a dash of Tabasco sauce.
Using an electric whisk, beat the egg yolks on a medium speed until they go paler and start to thicken.
Up the whisk speed and gently pour the melted butter into the egg mixture until you've got a nice thick, creamy consistency.
Assemble:
Butter the muffin or toast.
Drain the eggs on a piece of stale bread (or kitchen roll).
Put the eggs on the muffin/ toast.
Spoon the hollandaise over the poached eggs.
Grind some black pepper over the top and serve.
I warn you that, when you realise how easy this hollandaise is, you will need to stop yourself from making it every day!
Just a few suggestions here but the list of possibilities is endless (well, almost!)
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